Balochistan Point Voice of Nation
QUETTA: Balochistan Union of Journalists held a condolence reference here at Quetta Press Club on Sunday to pay glowing tributes to the slain journalists Irshad Mastoi, Ghulam Rasool, and accountant Muhammad Younas.
A large number of journalists and people from other walks of life attended the condolence and paid their tributes to the slain journalists for their services in the field of journalism.
Speaking on the occasion, BUJ president Irfan Saeed, senior journalist Saleem Shahid, President Quetta Press Club Raza Rehman, Behram Baloch, Yousaf Ajab Baloch, Abdul Shakoor and others said that Balochistan has become the most dangerous place for the journalists and urged journalist forums to take tougher stance on the brutal killing of the torch bearers of the truth. “The journalists should have exhibited much tougher stance on the killing of the first journalist in Balochistan,” said one of the speakers, adding that in that case the number would not have risen to the killing of 42 in the province.
They said that the political parties, government and others in power show least concern over the killing of the journalists, adding that merely a condemnation statement would not compensate the life of the journalists.
They held Irshad Mastoi as a daring voice, insightful journalist, upright fellow, affectionate teacher and the voice of the poor and suppressed. They said that he always advised his junior fellows to do balanced reporting and he himself had maintained the list of the slain journalists not knowing that one day he too would be an entry to it.
They said that his unflinching determination kept him in the field despite a shaking mishap of electrocution in which he lost his right hand, adding that he was gallant enough to fight back the frustration and start life anew by swallowing its bitter pills of truth.
Staff Reporter
Published in The Balochistan Point on September 29, 2014
